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Central African Republic: Première Urgence evaluates humanitarian
needs following the abuses committed by the Lord Resistance Army in the
South-East part of the country

SOURCE: Premiere Urgence

Since October 2009, thousands of people have fled from their villages
following the attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army (in the South-east
area of the Central African Republic; they have sought refuge in the few
towns that are considered to be secure in the zone.

Eweline tell us about it: "Before, my husband, my six children
and I were living happily in our village, Baradu, we grew corn, rice,
rape seed, manioc and vegetables. My husband hunted regularly and
brought us back meat. There was fruit then, too. Today, we have lost
everything. When the Tongo Tongo (LRA – Lord's Resistance Army) came to
our village to pillage everything, we fled taking with us only the
clothes on our backs. They kidnapped the young people, pillaged the
barns and burned the houses. Today, we are living in this camp, in
Rafaï, we are afraid to go home, afraid to go to the fields to pick a
little manioc to eat. And as we have no money left, it has become
difficult to send the children to school and particularly to keep them
in good health. Life is hard here, but it is still better than going
back to the village, where we could get kidnapped."

Eweline, a displaced Central African, who fled from the abuse of the LRA.

In Rafaï, more than 3,500 people are living in the camps for the displaced, thanks to the picking of a little manioc and leaves.

Several months ago, food aid was distributed, but it was
insufficient. Première Urgence made an audit of the situation in the
Rafaï area from 14 – 21 October 2010, to understand the needs of these
displaced populations, in addition to those of the resident populations,
also affected by the crisis.

Rafaï is home to more than 3,500 people in camps for displaced.

In order to counter undernourishment and to limit dependence on
outside food rations, Première Urgence would like to set up a food
security project. Distribution programmes of market seeds (vegetables)
and food seed (corn, rice, rape seed) and tools will enable the
populations to harvest by themselves during the next farming season.

This aid will help them to regain independence, even while displaced, until the security situation improves in the area.